The DAZN Boxing Show discussed Jake Paul choosing to fight Nate Diaz Jr as a way to prepare for his PFL debut.
Paul has an agreement to fight in MMA under the PFL franchise, but first will fight in the boxing ring once more, this time against the former UFC fighter.
Speaking on The DAZN Boxing Show, Akin 'Ak' Reyes wondered if Diaz’s skills would help Paul adjust to cage fighting.
He said: "Obviously it’s going to be late 2023, early 2024, but he has time to focus on this training camp. Obviously he comes from a wrestling background, he has wrestling in him. I love that he’s confident enough to come into the PFL and do some MMA against somebody.
“This is right here, maybe this is a practice run. Jake is an MMA fighter, even though they’re in the boxing ring, Nate is coming from an MMA world, that UFC world, so it’s good experience to get him ready for the PFL, because of the stance and the style.”
Barak Bess suggested that Paul’s position in crossover boxing allows him to continue as he sees fit in a way other fighters cannot.
“A lot of guys discredit Jake Paul and not understand that you discredit him because of the things he’s said and done, talking about Canelo, 'I’m going to beat Canelo,' or negative things he said about other people outside the ring,” he said.
“But I only look at what you do inside the ring and what you’re willing to do. Nate Diaz is a scary guy to most people in this world, for him to have the guts to get into the ring with himthat’s enough for me. I’m not expecting Jake, Jake has his own lane. I’m not talking about him with Canelo, with anyone on this side - he has his own lane.
“I’m going to talk about Jake Paul in his own world, and he’s inviting MMA killers into the ring and dispatching them, or beating them handily and this is another one. It takes a lot of courage, and you can’t take that away from him. After his loss to Tommy Fury, he said he’d been further than he expected. To lose and come back against another great, that says a lot about him.”